Thirteen young people, from the mainland (8) and Madeira (5), will travel for the first time as part of the ‘TAP Air Portugal Flight Baptisms initiative.’
Two TAP flights, one from Lisbon bound for Funchal and the other from Funchal to Lisbon will mark the first Portuguese Air Carrier’s Flight Baptisms initiative, integrated, it should be noted, within the scope of the 77th anniversary of the company founded by Humberto Delgado.
Asked to comment on this initiative, namely on its relevance, TAP’s communication office emphasised that “flight baptisms promote a positive and transforming social impact on the lives and well-being of children and young people who find themselves in a vulnerable situation, and who have never had the opportunity to travel by air. This then gives them an opportunity to nurture dreams, stimulate new learning and knowledge about other cultural realities.”
Reinforcing the values that the Portuguese flag company advocates, including their belief in social responsibility, TAP organised the Flight Baptisms initiative, contemplating for the trip ‘of their lives’ a group of young people aged between 11 and 23, who have never had the opportunity to travel before.
The group of newcomers are from, it should be noted, “two social entities that work with children and adolescents from underprivileged communities.”
From Lisbon, eight young people were selected from the ANFR – National Association of Street Football, whose work TAP recognises and supports in the community of Bairro Padre Cruz (in Carnide), integrated in the DLBC Lisbon Network – Local Community-Based Development of the CML, to travel to Funchal.
In addition, to the inaugural flight, which took place today, those selected had the opportunity to visit some of the main tourist attractions here in Madeira.
Young Madeirans fly tomorrow
Tomorrow it is the turn of five young people, between 11 and 23 years old, to take off from Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport towards Lisbon on board an Airbus A321. Those elected belong to APPDA Madeira (Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism of Madeira).
“Through CREE Funchal – Centre for Specialised Educational Resources, which recognizes the work developed by this entity that works with children, young people and adults with developmental disorders and autism in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and aims to improve the quality of life for those affected and their families.
Here too, the young people will have the opportunity to get to visit some of Lisbon’s famous landmarks before returning home.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
